78 
unaltered sporangial membrane. In the treatise on the Bangiaceæ by the same 
author (1896), however, these characters are not mentioned; the author states only 
some less essential differences and declares that at least A. ramosa might possibly be 
referred to the genus Goniotrichum. In 1900 WırLE has given a more detailed 
description of an Alga which he had found at Mandal on the South coast of Nor- 
way, and which he refers to the same species. He gives a description of the sel- 
ting free of the spores which is in accordance with that of Schmitz in 1894, but 
apparently without knowing the treatise of Schmitz, and he recommends that the 
genus Asferocytis should be kept distinct from Goniotrichum, primarily on account 
of the blue-green colour, but also because the author supposes that it produces 
resting cells, akinetes. It seems further that we may add as a distinctive character, 
that Asterocytis ramosa grows in brackish 
water, as stated by several authors (Har- 
VEY, Hauck, SCHMITZ, BATTERS), while Go- 
niotrichum elegans needs water of higher 
salinity. 
50000 SG 
I have found in several localities 
in the inner Danish waters a small Alga 
Q with blue-green cells, undoubtedly be- 
longing to this species. It occurred, 
N 
Ÿ 
(2) 
à however, as a rule in small individuals, 
© = 9 most frequently even unbranched, and 
@ © ® 0 in such cases agreeing with Goniotrichum 
\@ ON 2 simplex Lakowitz. Some of these speci- 
Uj EN (©) Q mens were short and only 9—11 v thick, 
Au ei, Gi A With vegetative cells 3—6 broad. Others 
ZA were longer and somewhat thicker be- 
ig. 17. 
Asterocytis ramosa (from Guldborgsund). A, filament with low, and the most Visorous Roc 
branch; in some cells the pyrenoid is shown. B—D,small with one or a few branches. Such spec- 
unbranched filaments with akinetes. 20:1. imens had often a thickness of 16 7 
near the base, in a single case of 25 »; the vegetative cells were about of the 
same size as in the smaller specimens, or they might be up to 7,5 » broad. In 
the plants examined by Witte the cells were, to judge from his figures and the 
magnification indicated, not a little greater (8—11,5 » broad), and the plants were 
as a whole more vigorously developed. In the Danish specimens the cells are 
usually oblong or ellipsoidal, often ca. 2 times as long as broad, sometimes shorter, 
nearly globular. The chromatophore, as is well known, is star-shaped with a dis- 
tinct pyrenoid; this, however, is not always central in the cell, the chromatophore 
being often nearer to the one side of the cell (fig. 17 B). 
The occurrence of akinetes supposed by Write I have been fortunate enough 
to confirm with certainty. In nearly all my gatherings of this species there was 
found a number of filaments, the cells of which were for the most part transformed 
